Learn how a solid QA process and ISO 17100 certification deliver top-notch, error-free translations—because protecting your brand is everything.
Imagine this: you’ve launched a marketing campaign aimed at a global audience, but a mistranslation has unintentionally offended your target market. Or perhaps, your product manual is so poorly localized that customers struggle to use your product.
These scenarios are more common than you might think—and they’re why translation quality assurance (QA) is nonnegotiable. But how do you know your translations are up to par? That’s where a robust QA process comes in.
Defining Quality: What Makes a Great Translation?
Quality in translation can feel elusive. It’s often judged by how the translated text communicates meaning, tone, and intent. So, to some extent, it’s subjective—one person’s “perfect translation” might feel clunky to another.
The challenge becomes more complex when you aren’t fluent in the source and target languages. How can you trust the quality of a translation if you can’t evaluate it yourself?
Partnering with a Language Service Provider (LSP) with a robust QA workflow is the answer. In other words, a series of checks and balances ensuring consistency, accuracy, and reliability.
Let’s delve into how quality assurance works in the translation process and why it’s critical for achieving the results your business needs.
The Key Steps of Quality Assurance in Translation
Translation QA is a multi-layered system designed to catch errors, refine content, and deliver a polished final product. Here’s how a well-oiled QA process works:
- Choosing the right translator.
The foundation of a great translation is the person doing the work. High-quality LSPs assign a linguist who is a native speaker of the target language and has expertise in your industry or subject matter. This ensures that the translator understands not just the words, but also the context and cultural nuances.
For larger projects, several translators might be needed. This requires strict coordination to maintain consistency across all pieces of content. A reliable LSP will also leverage tools like glossaries and translation memories so everyone is on the same page.
- Editing and revising.
Once the initial translation is complete, a second linguist—an editor—reviews the work. Editors tend to be experienced translators with knowledge of the subject at hand.
An editor won’t look at the text in isolation. They consider its purpose, the target audience, and the brand voice to make improvements where needed. They focus on:
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- Correcting errors in grammar, syntax, or terminology.
- Ensuring the translated content captures the meaning and tone of the source material.
- Identifying and resolving any inconsistencies or ambiguities.
- Proofreading.
Before a project is delivered to you, a third linguist who hasn’t been involved in earlier stages conducts a final proofreading check. This “fresh set of eyes” ensures:
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- There are no lingering typos, omissions, or mistranslations.
- The text reads smoothly in the target language.
- All stylistic and formatting guidelines have been followed.
- Formatting the text.
Translation often involves more than words on a page. Whether it’s a user manual, a website, or video subtitles, the content must fit into its intended format. That’s where desktop publishing (DTP) and multimedia teams come in.
These experts ensure the layout looks professional and accommodates text expansions or contractions (for instance, German text can be 35% longer than English). They also adapt visuals so they resonate with your target audience.
- Project manager review.
The project manager, who oversees the entire translation process, performs a final check to ensure every step has been completed. They verify that all files and assets are accounted for and that client-specific requirements have been addressed.
- Client feedback and revisions.
The translated content is delivered to you for review. Your LSP should welcome your feedback and make adjustments based on your input.
Tools for QA Purposes
Modern QA processes combine human expertise with advanced technologies, such as:
- Computer-Assisted Translation (CAT) tools: Features like translation memory and glossaries ensure consistent use of brand- and product-specific terms.
- Automated QA tools to identify issues like spelling errors, missing punctuation, or inconsistent terminology.
Why Robust QA Processes Are Essential
Here are some of the reasons QA matters:
- Cultural sensitivity: An error in localization can result in awkward, even offensive, messaging.
- Brand consistency: Translators and editors ensure your brand’s tone of voice and terminology are maintained across languages.
- Cost savings: Fixing errors after a translation is complete can be time-consuming and expensive. QA ensures those errors are caught early.
- Credibility: Well-executed translations reflect positively on your business, reinforcing your commitment to quality.
The Ultimate Test of Quality: ISO 17100 Certification
ISO certification isn’t just a badge—it’s a guarantee that the LSP follows best practices in translator selection, project management, and quality control. This standard ensures that an LSP’s processes are audited to meet rigorous quality benchmarks.
If your prospective LSP lacks this certification, it’s worth asking: Why?
Essential QA Questions to Ask When Choosing an LSP
Here are some key questions to guide your conversation when selecting an LSP:
- How do you choose your translators? Do they have subject-matter expertise?
- Does an editor review each translation?
- Do you offer services like desktop publishing and localization testing?
- Are you ISO 17100 certified?
- What happens if I’m not satisfied with the translation?
A reliable LSP will welcome these questions and provide clear, detailed answers. They understand that QA is as much about earning your trust as it is about delivering flawless translations.
QA Should Never Be an Afterthought
Translation quality isn’t something you can afford to leave to chance. Whether you’re entering a new market, launching a global campaign, or localizing a product, every detail matters.
Partnering with an LSP that prioritizes quality assurance ensures that your message will resonate with your audience—no matter where they are in the world. So, when choosing your translation partner, QA should be at the top of your checklist.
At Montero Language Services, we hold five ISO certifications, which speaks volumes about our commitment to quality. But don’t take our word for it—experience it for yourself!
Why not put us to the test with a translation project? Reach out today and let us show you how our robust QA processes can make all the difference.
